Phil Hay has stood up for Leeds United forward Rodrigo despite a poor run of form in recent weeks.
The Spaniard came under fire for a “dire display” against Chelsea as Beren Cross put it and received a 2/10 rating from the journalist.
In the absence of Patrick Bamford who shouldered the brunt of the attacking returns last season, the Whites haven’t been able to rely on their club-record signing with the 31-year-old scoring just six Premier League goals in 34 appearances this term.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show, Michael Normanton slammed a “hopeless” Rodrigo for his performances of late and said, “he doesn’t appear in my eyes to particularly care.”
However, Hay has defended the forward and suggested that he could be seen as a target when the chips are down.
(12:14) “ I don’t know about that. I mean, I never get the impression from speaking to people at the club that he doesn’t care and I don’t know it is kind of quite easy to draw that conclusion when it’s gone badly wrong.
“But I don’t disagree with the view that I just don’t see where and how he fits.
“We’re two years into this now. He was an incredibly expensive signing by Leeds’ standards and it just hasn’t worked and nobody seems to see him as a nine, I’m not convinced he’s a 10, I don’t think he knows.
“I still get the feeling deep down that he’d much rather play up front.”
TIF Thoughts on Rodrigo…
Jesse Marsch has received criticism for his decision to deploy Raphinha at right-back at times in recent games and it looks like now Rodrigo isn’t even being played in his favoured position.
The 27-capped Spain international is certainly a long way from rewarding the club for their investment.
He has posted meagre 6.3 and 6.2 SofaScore ratings in his last two games against Arsenal and Chelsea respectively with the club in vital need of picking up points.
He failed to register a single shot on target or off target and only managed one successful dribble during the entire 90 minutes and played no key passes, no crosses and no long balls while only winning two of his seven ground duels, losing possession 11 times.
As the club’s record signing, he should be the man they turn to in such a desperate time of need but nothing from his showing in the week indicates that he can be that player to dig his team out of a hole.